Resources

Global Health: Science and Practice journal articleWe document the effort over the last 30 years to respond to the call by women advocates at the International Conference on Population and Development for more woman-initiated single or dual-purpose contraceptive methods by developing the Caya contoured diaphragm, an innovative diaphragm designed to meet the needs of women and their partners and expand options for nonhormonal barrier contraception. We describe the complex and interrelated set of activities undertaken to develop the product using a human-centered design process and how we are working to create a corollary sustainable market. This review includes the evidence generated around improved acceptability among couples in low- and middle-income countries and depicts challenges and practical actions on how to dispel misconceptions about diaphragm use. Importantly, we share programmatic lessons learned on increasing universal access to this new sexual and reproductive health technology. Following our new model for increasing access to new and underutilized methods, Caya is now registered and being marketed in nearly 40 countries worldwide.

PATH collaborated with the Ministry of Health in Malawi to create an essential spare parts list, determine annual spare part quantities needed, and estimate the cost for the spare parts to facilitate budget and procurement decisions.This analysis suggests that Malawi needs to stock between 23,965 and 73,581 units of spare parts annually to support 12 respiratory care medical device types. The range is driven by the frequency of replacing spare parts, and the variation of spare part costs from local distributors. While providing valuable insights into the spare part requirements for respiratory care devices in Malawi, the study underscores the importance of adequate budgeting and inventory management. The study's findings highlight a significant demand for spare parts within health facilities, suggesting a need for a special annual budget allocation.

Surveys to vaccine and pharmaceutical regulators and manufacturers on endotoxin testing methodsEndotoxin testing is essential for ensuring the safety of injectable pharmaceutical products by detecting potentially harmful bacterial toxins.Traditional gold standard method, the Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) test, utilizes horseshoe crab blood for endotoxin detection. However, use of horseshoe crab blood led to the decline in horseshoe crab population. It now poses a significant threat to the sustainability of LAL test, impacting the medical field by potentially jeopardizing the safety of pharmaceutical products and posing a significant threat to public health. Advancements in technology have introduced alternatives, notably the recombinant Factor C (rFC) assay, which offers a sustainable and ethical alternative by eliminating the need for horseshoe crab blood.This survey aims to review current endotoxin testing methods and assess the potential for the rFC method to be adopted by manufacturers in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs).By evaluating the benefits and challenges of rFC technology, this survey seeks to provide valuable insights into how LMIC manufacturers, regulators and stakeholders might navigate the transition to this innovative method, enhancing their testing capabilities while addressing global sustainability and ethical considerations.

"Uniting forces for MNCH advocacy impact: The game changers," the third in our Africa regional MNCH advocacy dialogues series, was held on September 26, 2024.It featured a moderated discussion with panelists from PATH, World Health Organization, Kakamega MNCH Alliance, and the Centre for Reproductive Health and Education. The resources below include the presentation delivered by the panelists and recordings of the webinar in both English and French.

Drawing on PATH’s global expertise working in primary health care (PHC) for more than 40 years, as well as deep engagement in Kenya, where PATH has supported the government for more than 30 years, PATH regularly serves as a technical partner to the Kenyan government on PHC policy adoption and implementation at both the national and subnational levels. This report highlights examples as well as priorities for future work.